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About RaceIndexOur methodologyData coverageCyclingTriathlon
  • Ultramarathon
  • 80.5 km
  • Morehead
  • Event weekend starts
  • Open entry

Sheltowee Trace Ultras (Big Turtle Trail Runs), Morehead Ultramarathon

This race edition

Race date
Date not confirmed for this distance
Race timezone
Timezone not confirmed
Edition status
Status not confirmed

Entry options

2027 edition

Entry options are not yet confirmed for this edition. Check the organiser before making plans.

Modelled energy-cost change 5.5% versus flat · net elevation 5 m

View verified GPS mapOfficial event website & entry ↗
Data current as of

Decision summary

Sheltowee Trace Ultras (Big Turtle Trail Runs), Morehead Ultramarathon at a glance

Route ascent
1,187 m

Lower than 81% of comparable mapped races

Cut-off average pace
11:11/km

15:00:00 total limit divided by distance. Check gun/chip timing and intermediate limits; allow time for stops.

Typical conditions
51/100

Historical race-date favourability, not a forecast

Evidence depth
40 verified facts

Stored GPS route

Quick answers

What runners ask first

Sheltowee Trace Ultras (Big Turtle Trail Runs), Morehead route map

raceindex.org has a GPS course file for Sheltowee Trace Ultras (Big Turtle Trail Runs), Morehead, so runners can inspect the route line on the map. Elevation charts and ascent figures appear only when that file includes usable elevation data.

How hilly is the Sheltowee Trace Ultras (Big Turtle Trail Runs), Morehead?

The Sheltowee Trace Ultras (Big Turtle Trail Runs), Morehead route has 1,187 m of ascent, 1,182 m of descent and an estimated 5.5% grade-adjusted pace penalty versus a flat route.

Where does the Sheltowee Trace Ultras (Big Turtle Trail Runs), Morehead route go?

The Sheltowee Trace Ultras (Big Turtle Trail Runs), Morehead route starts at Morehead State University - Recreation & Wellness Center, 100 Evans Branch Road, Morehead, KY 40351 (downtown Morehead) and finishes at Morehead State University, Morehead, KY (same as start - out-and-back). Underfoot, expect roughly 60% un-paved trail - rocky, narrow single-track with creek/stream crossings, a wooden swinging bridge on the longer distances, plus some swift forest roads. It passes Sheltowee Trace National Recreation Trail, Daniel Boone National Forest, northern terminus of the Sheltowee Trace, wooden swinging bridge and creek crossings. No failures." The challenge is to finish within the overall cut-off rather than racing the clock.

What should runners know on race day for the Sheltowee Trace Ultras (Big Turtle Trail Runs), Morehead?

6.

Race character

Scenery

  • City
  • Countryside
  • Forest
  • Waterfront
  • Mountain
  • Riverside

Atmosphere

  • Wilderness
  • Community

Terrain

  • Trail
  • Gravel
Elevation character
Hilly
Technicality
Technical
Source-stated ascent
2,530 m

The stored route produces 1,187 m of ascent, while a source states 2,530 m. GPS sampling and elevation models can produce different totals, so both are labelled rather than combined.

Entry, logistics and records

Entry requirements

Entry status
Open entry: The held registration model is open entry and this edition is not marked sold out.
Cut-off
Overall 10:00 pm cut-off for the full-format event (50M/50K/10M); everyone across the finish line before the final cut-off receives a finisher medal. (The reduced 2026 edition used a 6:00 pm cut-off for its 50K and 10 Miler.)
Qualification status
Not a qualifier and no lottery; open Entry untimed trail ultra.

Race day logistics

Aid stations
6
Medal
Everyone who crosses the finish line before the final cut-off receives a finisher medal.

Access and course status

Start
Morehead State University - Recreation & Wellness Center, 100 Evans Branch Road, Morehead, KY 40351 (downtown Morehead)
Finish
Morehead State University, Morehead, KY (same as start - out-and-back)

Course facts

Course type
Out And Back
Surface
Roughly 60% un Paved trail rocky, narrow single Track with creek/stream crossings, a wooden swinging bridge on the longer distances, plus some swift forest roads.
Landmarks
Sheltowee Trace National Recreation Trail, Daniel Boone National Forest, northern terminus of the Sheltowee Trace, wooden swinging bridge, creek crossings, Appalachian foothills, Morehead State University
Notable features
  • Untimed running event: "This is an UN-TIMED running event where our goal is to give YOU the OPPORTUNITY to CHALLENGE YOURSELF! No timekeeping. No failures." The challenge is to finish within the overall cut-off rather than racing the clock
  • Event also offers a 10 Mile trail race (~10ish miles, approx 2,200' gain) alongside the 50 Mile and 50K
  • the 10-miler does not map to a standard race-distance label
  • The 50 Mile is an out-and-back from downtown Morehead to the northern terminus of the Sheltowee Trace National Recreation Trail and back
  • 50K and 10 Mile runners turn around sooner on the same course
  • 50K has aid stations at roughly miles 5, 10.7, 15.6, 20.5, 26.2 and 31.2
  • aid stations stock water, electrolyte drink, soda, pickle juice and snacks

How hilly is the Sheltowee Trace Ultras (Big Turtle Trail Runs), Morehead Ultramarathon?

15%20%31%20%15%
  • Steep descent 15%
  • Descent 20%
  • Flat 31%
  • Climb 20%
  • Steep climb 15%
Total ascent
1,187 m
Net elevation
+5 m
GAP factor
5.5%
Longest climb
790 m at 12.9%
Gradient mix and ascent are derived from the course geometry under our published normalisation, not taken from organiser marketing.

What are typical race-day conditions?

  • 21°CTypical temperature
  • 13 kphTypical wind
  • 4 mmTypical rainfall
  • 51Favourability /100
Typical conditions for the race date and locality, warmer than the endurance-optimal window. These are climatological norms, not a forecast, and are shared across every distance at this event.

More race details

Is the Sheltowee Trace Ultras (Big Turtle Trail Runs), Morehead flat?

Its normalised GAP factor is 5.5% slower than a flat course, with about 1187 m of total ascent.

How we calculated this

Published facts and derived model outputs on this page are tied to stored sources or a published, version-locked methodology. We show the provenance so runners, coaches and organisers can check it. Data on this page is current as of .

Derived numbers use scoring-methodology-v1.0.

Sources used on this page (3)

Read the full methodology →